Washington state employers added 25,100 jobs during the 12 months ending in March, preliminary data from the Washington state Employment Security Department shows.

LaunchNW, an initiative of Spokane-based Innovia Foundation, has awarded $920,000 in grants to support high school education post-graduation in rural communities across Eastern Washington.

Global Federal Credit Union has acquired First Financial Northwest Inc., the parent company of First Financial Northwest Bank.

Spokane-based Meridian Construction & Development Inc. has changed hands and will operate under a new name.

Visit Spokane will host the Northwest Public Power Association Engineering & Operations Conference and Trade Show next week, from April 15-17.

The Washington State Department of Commerce launched its online Tariff Information and Resource Guide this week in response to questions and confusion around recently implemented federal tariffs.

Downtown Spokane Partnership has announced author and urbanist Peter Kageyama as the keynote speaker for the fourth annual State of Downtown & Awards Breakfast.

Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp. has entered into a one-year employment agreement with Arsen Kitch, who will continue his role as president and CEO.

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has raised its starting hourly wage for U.S. employees to $20 per hour.

Single-family home sales in the Spokane area totaled 436 closed sales in March, a 9.4% decrease from the year-earlier total of 481.